Latin Notes: Ruben's Place comes to family's rescue

Updated 11:55 am, Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Ruben's Place owner Ruben Castro was moved by the family's story. "I hope people will respond to it," he said.

Ruben's Place owner Ruben Castro was moved by the family's story. "I hope people will respond to it," he said.

Photo: For The Express-News

Image 2 of 2

INTERNATIONAL ACCORDION FESTIVAL: Mingo Saldivar looks back towards his members of his group Los Tremendos Cuatro Espadas during his hipnotic performance at La Villita Arneson Theatre Friday Oct.13, 2006. DELCIA LOPEZ/STAFF less

INTERNATIONAL ACCORDION FESTIVAL: Mingo Saldivar looks back towards his members of his group Los Tremendos Cuatro Espadas during his hipnotic performance at La Villita Arneson Theatre Friday Oct.13, 2006. ... more

Photo: DELCIA LOPEZ, EXPRESS-NEWS FILE PHOTO

Latin Notes: Ruben's Place comes to family's rescue

1 / 2

Back to Gallery

It's not unusual for Ruben Castro to come to the rescue.

Many times over the years, he has allowed his restaurant, bar and live-music venue, Ruben's Place in Selma, to be used for fundraisers.

Hearing that the family of Adela Mendoza and her chronically ill baby daughter, Athena Goddard, find themselves in particularly dire straits was all it took for him to get involved.

“I help. That's what I do. I help the poor,” said Castro, whose father, Pedro “Pete” Castro, opened the historic venue in 1937.

But this is more than a barbecue-plate sale. The stakes are high Saturday when conjunto stars Mingo “The Dancing Cowboy” Saldivar and Mark Weber y Los Cuernos, along with surprise guests, come together to raise money to offset the family's medical bills, which topped $90,000 for a recent hospital stay.

She was in the hospital from Dec. 26 to Jan. 12. For one week of that stay, she required a ventilator. That's when she contracted a bacterial infection and developed bedsores, which will require surgery.

Mendoza, a Bexar County probation officer who deals with juveniles, was forced to take an unpaid leave of absence because of her daughter's condition.

More Information

The financial stress and constant worry brought on something else. Mendoza's multiple sclerosis flared up and now Mom can barely get out of bed.

Her husband, Bruce Goddard, drives a truck for the city “and is stressed out,” says Mendoza.

Her two older children, from a previous marriage, are also suffering. Evangeline Saenz, 8, and Eddie Saenz, 13, are dealing with the death of their father, Eddie Saenz, who was murdered Sept. 24. at a Southwest Side trailer park.

“He was only 35; I've known him since I was 12 years old,” said Mendoza, 30. “It's, like, oh, my God! All this stuff is happening. They're already traumatized, and then I was away (at the hospital) with my daughter. It's just everything.”

The baby is back at home “slowly coming back,” but she is having trouble walking and talking since being hospitalized.

Mendoza says that a Ruben's Place waitress brought her plight to the attention of the venue's owner. She is appreciative.

“I was on Facebook, crying out to God and asking for everybody's prayers. She started reading my posts,” Mendoza said. “She told me that (Ruben) wanted to help me. It's just weird because I've been in social work for 10 years, and I'm always helping other people. I've just never been on this side. Ruben is such a nice guy.”

The kindhearted Castro says he didn't give it a second thought.

“It just moved me so much,” said Castro, 72. “Let's see what we can do for her. We just try to help as much as we can and give her a little lift. I hope people will respond to it. All donations accepted.”